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Brundage, Stephanie

Cuscuta gronovii

Cuscuta gronovii Willd. ex Schult.

Scaldweed, Dodder

Cuscutaceae (Dodder Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CUGR

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A climbing, parasitic vine with dense clusters of small white, bell-shaped, flowers on orange-yellow stems.

Dodder seeds germinate in soil, but the roots eventually die as the plant twines around a host plant and sends out suckers that penetrate host tissues and through which it obtains all its nourishment. The species name honors Dutch botanist Jan Fredrik Gronovius, teacher of Linnaeus. Other dodders grow exclusively on such plants as flax or clover and are significant agricultural weeds. Dozens of dodders, some from Europe, are found in North America, and most are difficult to distinguish from one another. The genus Cuscuta is often placed in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae.

From the Image Gallery

39 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 20 inches long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY
Canada: NB , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Alberta east to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, west to Texas and north to North Dakota; also in parts of the West.
Native Habitat: On a variety of plants in moist, low ground.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cuscuta gronovii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cuscuta gronovii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cuscuta gronovii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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